Sun pierces through the roof of leaves
to touch the damp ground
to dry the rocks strewn about our path.

The Easy Trail is far too easy,
much too short,
and the Popular one not quite long enough.
But everything is lush
and green
and beautiful.
The roots provide nature-made stairs,
the trees are nature’s benches.

Off the Popular Trail our group is alone
just us and nature
us and the trees
us and the sound of rushing water.